|
The
European Commission said its proposed regulation on geographical
indications for craft and industrial products will take aim at
counterfeits and help boost local areas.
Geographical indications (GI) are already a cornerstone of EU
agricultural and trade policy, designed to ensure that only
products, food and wine from a given region can be identified as
such.
The EU executive's proposal to extend the regulation to crafts
and industries will need to be thrashed out with EU countries
and lawmakers before it can become law. The system will replace
national schemes in 16 EU countries and is expected to apply to
about 800 products.
"Europe has an exceptional legacy of world-renown crafts and
industrial products," EU industry chief Thierry Breton said in a
statement.
"It is time that these producers benefit from a new intellectual
property right, like food and wine producers, that will increase
trust and visibility for their products, guaranteeing
authenticity and reputation," he said.
The scheme will apply to products such as natural stones,
jewellery, textiles, lace, cutlery, glass and porcelain, either
handmade or mass-produced and made in a specific place with a
quality or characteristic linked to its geographical origin.
EU producers of craft and industrial products can seek
international protection for their products in countries which
have signed up to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Geneva Act.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
